For college students who expect to be treated differently in college than in high school, cellphone policies in college classes have been a disappointment.
“I would disagree with (cellphone policies),” said Kristin Michael, a University of Idaho junior.
Michael said she understands some students cannot multitask, and phone usage during class can distract the cellphone user from the course material. Yet, she said the decision to have a cellphone in class should be the student”s choice.
“I”ve had teachers who will confiscate phones like it”s high school,” Michael said.
Journalism Professor Steve Smith said he”s familiar with the argument – because college students are adults, teachers should treat them as such.
Yet, Smith said he does not think a technology policy treats students as juveniles.
“I don”t care if I”m teaching a senior citizen class. If there”s not enough respect to pay attention to what I”m trying to say – that I”ve put a lot of work into – I would say something to that group,” Smith said. “I would say something to grade-schoolers. I don”t see it as a parental thing at all, I think it”s something more than that.”
Smith said he has three main reasons for restricting cellphones in this class: respect to him, respect to fellow students and growing evidence that electronics have adverse effects on learning. Smith said a possible fourth reason is respect to visitors, which he experienced before becoming a professor.
“As a visitor, I felt frequently disrespected by people who were doing other things,” Smith said. “I would walk around the classroom and I”m trying to talk at the invitation of the professor and people were on Facebook.”
He also said technological policies in colleges are on the rise nationwide, possibly due to the evidence about adverse effects of the devices on learning.
Sophomore Kendall Varin shares Smith”s opinion and said she does not think cellphones should be used in class unless the instructor says otherwise.
“Like if you”re in engineering class, I don”t think that”s appropriate,” Varin said.
Varin said she thinks cellphone policies are appropriate in certain classes, but not in others. She said she has had teachers who have in-class assignments that involve students using their mobile devices.
Yet, Varin said she does not think banning cellphones will keep students from getting distracted.
Sophomore Gabrielle Diebner said unless it is a large lecture class, students should not have their phones out.
“It”s weird to be on your phone in class,” Diebner said.
While she thinks cellphone policies should be stated, Diebner said students are ultimately going to do what they want.
Like Diebner, many teachers said they do not agree with students using cellphones in class.
Hana Johnson, a management and human resources professor at UI, said she has a cellphone policy in place so students do not even have the temptation of checking their phones. She said having a cell phone could distract other students in the class.
“I don”t see the benefits of allowing them,” Johnson said.
Johnson said she does not enforce her policy rigorously, and has seen her students occasionally texting in class.
Junior Jordan Brady said he does not think cellphone use in class is a big deal. He said he has one anatomy teacher who, because they are working with cadavers, does not allow cellphones in labs for security reasons. Otherwise, he said most of his teachers have not been strict about the issue.
Jennifer Steere, an English graduate student, said she enforces her policy strongly for a short period early on to create an environment conducive to learning later on.
“At the beginning of the semester I bring in a basket, and I actually have them put their phones in a basket,” she said.
Steere said she explains to her students the importance of boredom in the learning process, which technology inhibits. Although, she said she does involve electronics in class when it”s applicable to what she”s teaching.
Steere said she does not enjoy enforcing her policy, which is why she uses the basket. However, if Steere does see a phone, she said she will take action.
“I have asked students to leave the class for playing with their cellphones, because they”re not present so they shouldn”t be here,” she said.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NinaRobin7